The temple is situated in the Mandya district, on a notable isle in Karnataka. Ranganathar (Lord Vishnu), revered in his reclining form, is the central deity here. It is part of the Ranga Kshetrams, all of which lie along the islands of the Cauvery River.

Srirangapatna Temple

The sequence of Rangam includes Srirangapatna as the initial, Shivanasamudra as the middle, and the prestigious Srirangam in Tiruchirapalli, Tamilnadu, as the last. Thirumalaiya, a devoted follower of Lord Vishnu and a Ganga Chieftain, founded the Srirangapatna temple, which flourished under the Hoysala and Vijayanagara Empires. Figures such as Hyder Ali and his son, Tipu Sultan, admired this temple for its sanctity, architectural beauty, and artistic allure.

History of Srirangapatna Temple :

According to Hindu mythology, the River Cauvery, revered as a mother, was so pure that she could cleanse the sins of the Holy Ganges, which had become polluted by countless devotees’ sins. Embued with impurities, Cauvery prayed to Lord Vishnu and undertook severe penance to seek his blessings. Moved by her devotion, Lord Vishnu graced the river to absolve her sins. This revered site on the riverbanks, known as Srirangapatna, also termed Gautama Kshetra, is where Maharishi Gautama worshipped Lord Vishnu in the reclining posture.

Specialty of Srirangapatna Temple :

• The temple features a prominent "Garuda Sthamba" typical of Lord Vishnu's temples.
• Carvings of the 24 forms of Lord Vishnu adorn the "Chaturvimsati Pillars".
• A separate shrine is dedicated to Goddess Ranganayaki, Lord Vishnu’s consort, and another to Goddess Lakshmi at Lord Vishnu’s feet.
• A Lord Krishna Shrine among the facades of “Acharyas” and “Alvars” emphasizes the Vaishnava tradition.
• The temple, considered one of the Pancha Rangams or Five Sacred Sites, is historically significant and often deemed holier than the Ganges.
• A memorial in Srirangapatna commemorates the site of the battle where Tipu Sultan fell in 1799.
• River proximity and local beliefs suggest that those living near can attain "Moksha" (liberation from rebirth).

Temple and Pooja Timings :

General Time : 7.30 AM - 1.30 PM and 4.00 PM - 8.OO PM

Temple Festivals:

Makara Sankranthi Brahmotsava : Morning decorations with butter and evening adornments with the "Vaikuntamud

Ratha Sapthami Brahmotsava: The Big Chariot Festival or Dodda Rathothsava is celebrated.

Magha Shuddha Poornima: The holy dip (Punya Snana) of thousands of devotees during the full moon day of “Magha Month” (Jan-Feb) of the Hindu Calendar.

Sriranga Jayanthi: The festival marks the lodging of Sri Ranganatha Swamy in this temple.

Nava Rathri: Poojas, yaga, homa, sacred offerings, and festivals like Ayudha Pooja and Vijayadasami are important parts of the pompous celebration.

Bangarada Garudotsva: The festival happens on the full moon day of the “Vaishaka Masa” (April-May) of the Hindu Calendar.

Ashta Theerthotsva: Thousands of devotees take the holy dip in 8 holy spots where revered sages had once penanced to get the blessings of Lord Vishnu.

Cauvery Pooja: Offering of gifts to River Cauvery and celebration during the “Ashada Masa” (June-July) according to “Krishna Paksha” (dark lunar fortnight) of the Hindu calendar.

Pavithrotsva: During the Ekadashi (a spiritual day with observing of fasting) of “Shukla Paksha” (bright lunar fortnight) for five days in “Bhadrapada Masa” (August-September) of the Hindu Calendar.

Deepavali: “Arishini Seva” (Turmeric Paste) along with bath rituals is done to both Sri Ranganatha Swamy and Sri Ranganayaki.

Dress Code :

Traditional attire is favored, but any decent clothing is acceptable.

Nearby Temples :

• Sri Nimishambha Temple (5.1 km away from Srirangapatna Temple)
• Karighatta Temple (7.5 km away from Srirangapatna Temple)
• Lord Srinivasa Temple (7.5 km away from Srirangapatna Temple)
• Sri Cheluvanarayana Temple (38.1 km away from Srirangapatna Temple)
• Saumya Keshava Temple (51.4 km away from Srirangapatna Temple)
• Basalaru Mallikarjuna Temple (64.6 km away from Srirangapatna Temple)

Best Time to Visit Srirangapatna Temple:

October to March is the ideal time to visit this temple. Monsoon and summer are not a suitable time to go to this holy place. Winter is highly recommended. There is a pleasant climate during the winter season from October onwards. During July to September, monsoon brings down the hotel rates. Budget travelers could wait for the changing weather pattern to manage their visit. Avoid clashing with the rushing devotees during the summer months from April to June.

How to Reach Srirangapatna Temple :

By Air : The nearest airport is the Mysuru Airport (32 km away from the town). Frequent buses and trains service are available connecting Srirangapatna with Mysore and India. The nearest International Airport is Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore.

By Rail : Srirangapatna Junction has good connectivity with the rest of India.

By Road : On a daily basis, day and night, bus services are available from Bangalore and Mysore. There are also shared taxis and cabs in this region.

Address : Srirangapatna, Karnataka 571438 (Mandya District).

FAQs about Srirangapatna Temple:

Where is Srirangapatna Temple located, and why is it significant?

Situated in the Mandya district of Karnataka, Srirangapatna Temple resides on an island in the Cauvery River. It is renowned as the first in the sequence of Rangam temples, which honor Lord Vishnu in his reclining form, with Shivanasamudra and Srirangam following as the other two.

What is the history behind Srirangapatna Temple?

According to Hindu mythology, the temple's location on the Cauvery River banks, known as Gautama Kshetra, is where Maharishi Gautama performed penance to Lord Vishnu. The temple was founded by Thirumalaiya, a Ganga chieftain, and has been revered through centuries under various empires, including Hoysala and Vijayanagara.

What are the specialties of Srirangapatna Temple?

The temple features a prominent Garuda Sthamba, 24 forms of Lord Vishnu carved on Chaturvimsati Pillars, shrines for Goddess Ranganayaki and Goddess Lakshmi, and a Lord Krishna shrine highlighting Vaishnava traditions. It is one of the Pancha Rangams and is believed to be holier than the Ganges by local traditions.

What are the temple timings and major festivals celebrated?

Srirangapatna Temple is open from 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM and from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM daily. Major festivals include Makara Sankranthi Brahmotsava, featuring morning butter decorations and evening Vaikuntamudi adornments.

How can visitors reach Srirangapatna Temple?

Visitors can reach Srirangapatna by air via Mysuru Airport (32 km) or Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore. Srirangapatna Junction offers excellent rail connectivity, and frequent buses and taxis ply from Bangalore and Mysore, making road travel convenient.